 Beware the Dark Squares Part 2
By by IM Jonathan Schroer
Here is part 2 of Jon's article, in which he takes on a strong master and fights against the Modern Benoni. Playing the white side of this type of position is never easy, since Black is often just a moment away from breaking out and rampaging over the board. In this game, white fights fire with fire and manages to do a little rampaging himself.
Schroer (2642) - kalten (2353) [A71]
USCF 10 0 r (6), 12.09.1999
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.e4 Bg7 8.Bg5 0-0 9.Nd2 a6 10.a4 Nbd7 11.Be2 Qc7 12.0-0 Re8 13.Kh1 One choice among several. Here are some others: 13.a5, 13.Rc1!, 13.Qc2!, and also 13.f4 c4 14.Qc2 Nc5 (maybe 14...h6 is better) 15.Bxf6. 13...Rb8 14.f4 White stands a bit better out of the opening. 14...c4?! In a difficult position, Black tries to drum up tactical counterchances. 15.e5?! Not wishing to go on the defensive in a speed game, I play the most aggressive line.
15.Bxc4!± Simply wins the c-pawn. Black does not have enough compensation. 15...Nc5 16.Rc1 Qb6 (16...Qa5 is interesting.) 15...dxe5 Forced. 16.Nxc4! 16.fxe5 is interesting. Here are some possibilities:
16...Nxd5? 17.Bxc4! (17.Nxd5? Qxe5 is unclear) 17...Nxc3 18.Bxf7+ Kh8 19.bxc3±.
16...Rxe5! 17.Bf4 b5 with compensation: 18.axb5 axb5 19.Nf3 Ng4. 16...b5? Black's thematic pawn break in the Modern Benoni, but mis-timed here.
16...e4 17.f5±; 16...h6! 17.Bxf6 (17.fxe5 hxg5 18.exf6 Nxf6 19.a5 and white is somewhat better.) 17...Bxf6 18.fxe5 (also 18.f5) 17.axb5 axb5 18.d6!+- 18.fxe5 and 18.Nxe5 are also candidates. 18...Qc5 18...Qd8 is an important alternative. 19.Nxe5 b4 20.Na4! Starting a very forcing sequence of moves which should win without too much trouble. 20.Bxf6 is an alternative. 20...Qe3 21.Rf3! Qe4 22.Bd3! Qd5 22...Qd4 23.Bc4! 23.Bc4! Qxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Rf8 25.b3! Nxe5! 26.fxe5 Ng4! The best practical chance. Now I am faced with a confusing choice among several winning lines. If instead 26...Ne4, best is 27.Be7 Bg4 28.Rd4 Bxf3 29.gxf3 Nc3 30.d7. 27.d7?! Better is 27.Rxf7 Rxf7 28.Bxf7+ (28.d7 Bxd7 29.Bxf7+) 28...Kxf7 29.d7 Bxd7 30.Rxd7+ Kg8 31.e6, as well as 27.Be7 Bb7 28.Rf4! (or maybe 28.Bd5) 28...Ne3 29.Bxf8, but 27.Nc5! entralizing the knight, is the clearest win: 27...Nxe5 28.d7, and White emerges a full piece ahead. 27...Bxd7 28.Rxd7 Strong here is 28.Rxf7! Rxf7 29.Bxf7+ Kf8 (29...Kxf7 30.Rxd7+ Kg8 31.e6) 30.Rxd7 Nxe5 31.Be6 Nxd7 32.Bxd7. 28...Nxe5± 29.Rfd3?! Better is 29.Rc7 or 29.Nc5. 29...Nxd3?! Black had the chance here for 29...Nxc4!! 30.bxc4 b3. 30.Bxd3± f6 31.Bc4+ 31.Bd2!? goes after the b4 pawn right away. Delaying Bc4+ allows Bd3 to block the d-file, preventing counterplay on the back rank. Na4-c5 will defend the d3 bishop: 31...Rfd8 32.Rxd8+ Rxd8 33.Nc5 Bf8 34.Bxb4 Bxc5 35.Bc4+ Kg7 36.Bxc5 Rd1+ 37.Bg1+-. 31...Kh8 32.Be3! Rfd8 32...Rfe8!? was a possibility here. 33.Nc5 33.Rxd8+ Rxd8 34.g4!? is worth a look. 33...Rxd7 34.Nxd7 Rd8 35.Bb5 f5 On 35...Re8 there is 36.Bf2, and on 35...Rc8 36.Bc5 (or 36.Nc5.) 36.g3! 36.Kg1 is a reasonable alternative. 36...Bc3 37.Kg2 Kg7 38.Kf3 Kf7 39.Bc4+ Kg7? 39...Ke7! was much better. 40.Nb6! Rd1 41.Nd5!+- Be1?! 42.Ke2! Ra1?? Whoops. 42...Rb1 looks worth a try. 43.Bd4+ 1-0
| 
HOME